Smoke and cinder conductor



(NoModelJ W. A. BROWN 8; J. F. SMITH.

SMOKE AND GINDBR CONDUCTOR.

No. 276,664. Patented May 1,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BROWN AND JAMES F. SMITH, 0F TERRELL, TEXAS.

SMOKE ANDCINDER CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,664, dated May 1,I883.

Application filed December 18, 1882. (No model.)

To tilllwhom it may concern Beit known that we, WILLIAM A. BROWN andJAS. E. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Terrell, inthe county of Kaufman and State of Texas, have invented a new and usefulSmoke and Ginder Gonductor for Railroad and other-Trains, of which thefollowing is a specification, relerence being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to smoke and cinder conductors forrailroad-trains, and has for its object to provide a simple-andefficientconducting mechanism to be attached to the cars, and providedwith an improved coupling device at its ends, by which a coupling can beautomatically effected with the conducting mechanism of an adjoiningcar.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a railroad-train equippedwith our improved smoke and cindercouductor. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of the coupling mechanism. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view, in detail, of the coupling between the cars.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the cars comprising the train,each of which is providedwith a longitudinal conducting-tube, B,securedito the car by straps 0-. The locomotive D and tender E arelikewise provided with these longitudinal conducting-tubes B, the one onthe locomotive being formed with an extension or hood, F, at itsi'rontend, which extends over and around the mouth of the smoke-stack G, asshown. The conductingtubes on the cars and on the tender are provided atboth ends with a coiled spring, H, of a diameter equal to the interiordiameter of the end of the tube, which springs aresecured inside theends of the tubes and project therefrom. The springs H carry at theirfree ends a flat plate, I, of greater Width than the diameter of theconducting-tubes, and having a central opening, J, of a diameter equaltothat of the conducting-tubes. The projecting portion of thesprings H iscovered by a fireproof flexible cloth or other substance, K, ex tendingfrom the end of the tube B to the plate 1. The rear end of the tube onthelocomotive is also provided with the above-described couplingmechanism comprising the spring H, plate I, and flexible covering K.

Ldesignates openings thatmay be formed in the conducting-tubes, and aredesigned to increase the draft through the tubes.

The operation and advantages of our in vention are obvious. When thecars come to gether the plates I I meet and thesprings H H arecompressed. Then after the cars are coupled in the ordinary manner thetension of the said springs causes the plates to bind closely together,while the smoke, cinders, &c., are

conducted from the smoke-stack through the train of tubes thus connectedand out at the rear end of the train. This elastic joint between thetubes will not admit of any ciuders or the like escaping, and willreadily and automatically accommodate itself to the lateral sway orvertical play of thecars while in motion. I

The whole mechanism isvery simple in construction and efficientinoperation, and can be applied to cars now in use at a comparativelyminimum expense.

We claim as our invention- As an improvement in spark-conductors, thecombination of the tubes B, the coiled springs H, permanently securedinside the ends of the tubes and projecting therefrom, the flat plates1, carried and supported solely by the springs H at their outer ends,and provided with central openings, and the flexible cover K, securedpermanently over the end of the tube and extending to the inner face ofthe plate I, whereby the plates and. flexible cover are supported solelyby the springs, and thereby capable of free movement in. any direction,as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereuntoafiixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. BROWN. J. F. SMITH.

Witnesses WM. H. ALLEN, JOHN WAKEM.

